Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol
Background The transition from traditional office work to telework has accelerated significantly since the late 20th century, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its widespread adoption, the long-term health impacts of telework remain unclear. This study seeks to clarify the telewo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e096105.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832542437870927872 |
|---|---|
| author | Barbara Cagnie Bas de Geus Robby De Pauw Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de Oca Laura Int Panis Mathieu Verbrugghe Els De Waegeneer |
| author_facet | Barbara Cagnie Bas de Geus Robby De Pauw Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de Oca Laura Int Panis Mathieu Verbrugghe Els De Waegeneer |
| author_sort | Barbara Cagnie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The transition from traditional office work to telework has accelerated significantly since the late 20th century, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its widespread adoption, the long-term health impacts of telework remain unclear. This study seeks to clarify the telework–health relationship by integrating longitudinal self-reported health data with health-related administrative records.Methods and analysis An online self-reported longitudinal survey with four follow-ups of 6 months each, starting in November 2024, will be set up and linked with administrative data sources. In total, a non-probabilistic sample of 5000 non-teleworkers and teleworkers will be recruited. This survey will mainly assess the effect of teleworking on mental (eg, depression and anxiety) and physical (eg, pain) health. Administrative data (eg, healthcare consumption contacts and socioeconomic status) will be extracted from Belgian administrative data sources (Statistics Belgium and the InterMutualistic Agency) for the same period. This administrative data will be linked to the survey data using the Social Security ID. The underlying relationships between telework and health will be analysed via regression models and mediation models embedded in the natural effects framework. The analysis will aim to (1) identify the impact of telework on self-reported health and administrative data, (2) identify the moderators and mediators between the telework–health relationship, (3) understand the long-term patterns of telework and health interaction and (4) predict the health outcomes of teleworkers. To mitigate biases associated with non-probabilistic samples and attrition, standardised probability weights scoring will be derived from the data.Ethics and dissemination This study involves human participants and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent (Nr°. ONZ-2023–0630). The participants will participate in the study after signing an informed consent form. The study will be disseminated in academic journals, on (social) media and on the project website. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4488e64b20fa4980859db3ac557b5f52 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-4488e64b20fa4980859db3ac557b5f522025-02-04T05:00:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-02-0115210.1136/bmjopen-2024-096105Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocolBarbara Cagnie0Bas de Geus1Robby De Pauw2Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de Oca3Laura Int Panis4Mathieu Verbrugghe5Els De Waegeneer6Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, BelgiumIACCHOS, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, BelgiumIACCHOS, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumIACCHOS, Universite catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumMensura Externe dienst voor preventie en bescherming, Brussel, BelgiumMensura Externe dienst voor preventie en bescherming, Brussel, BelgiumBackground The transition from traditional office work to telework has accelerated significantly since the late 20th century, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its widespread adoption, the long-term health impacts of telework remain unclear. This study seeks to clarify the telework–health relationship by integrating longitudinal self-reported health data with health-related administrative records.Methods and analysis An online self-reported longitudinal survey with four follow-ups of 6 months each, starting in November 2024, will be set up and linked with administrative data sources. In total, a non-probabilistic sample of 5000 non-teleworkers and teleworkers will be recruited. This survey will mainly assess the effect of teleworking on mental (eg, depression and anxiety) and physical (eg, pain) health. Administrative data (eg, healthcare consumption contacts and socioeconomic status) will be extracted from Belgian administrative data sources (Statistics Belgium and the InterMutualistic Agency) for the same period. This administrative data will be linked to the survey data using the Social Security ID. The underlying relationships between telework and health will be analysed via regression models and mediation models embedded in the natural effects framework. The analysis will aim to (1) identify the impact of telework on self-reported health and administrative data, (2) identify the moderators and mediators between the telework–health relationship, (3) understand the long-term patterns of telework and health interaction and (4) predict the health outcomes of teleworkers. To mitigate biases associated with non-probabilistic samples and attrition, standardised probability weights scoring will be derived from the data.Ethics and dissemination This study involves human participants and has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent (Nr°. ONZ-2023–0630). The participants will participate in the study after signing an informed consent form. The study will be disseminated in academic journals, on (social) media and on the project website.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e096105.full |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Cagnie Bas de Geus Robby De Pauw Eduardo Antonio Bracho Montes de Oca Laura Int Panis Mathieu Verbrugghe Els De Waegeneer Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol BMJ Open |
| title | Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol |
| title_full | Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol |
| title_short | Exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health: the TeleHealth survey–data linkage study protocol |
| title_sort | exploring the causal paths and longitudinal impact of telework on health the telehealth survey data linkage study protocol |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/2/e096105.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT barbaracagnie exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT basdegeus exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT robbydepauw exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT eduardoantoniobrachomontesdeoca exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT lauraintpanis exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT mathieuverbrugghe exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol AT elsdewaegeneer exploringthecausalpathsandlongitudinalimpactofteleworkonhealththetelehealthsurveydatalinkagestudyprotocol |